Cigarette ashtray means



Oct. 31, 1967 V R. c. JABLONSKI 3,349,778

CIGARETTE ASHTRAY MEANS Filed NOV. 17, 1965 I N VENTGR. RA YMOND C. JABL 0N5 K United States Patent 3,349,778 CIGARETTE ASHTRAY MEANS Raymond C. Jablonski, 1879 Coventry Drive, Memphis, Tenn. 38127 Filed Nov. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 508,334 6 Claims. (Cl. 131-241) This invention relates to ashtray 1y to disposable ashtray means. basic embodiments:

(1) A substantially small hand-grip size disposable ashtray of such small size as to be readily held in the hand by the user.

(2) A somewhat larger disposable ashtray member in combination with a base member for removably holding the ashtray member on a table top or the like.

In embodiments 1 and 2 the structure of the ashtray is substantially alike except the hand-held ashtray of embodiment 1 is somewhat small and deeper than the ashtray of the ashtray-base combination of embodiment 2. The ashtray per se in each embodiment is formed from a thin sheet of aluminum foil and a substantially short length of small ductile metal wire.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a substantially small, lightweight, disposable ashtray readily constructable from chea plentiful wire and aluminum foil material.

A further object is to provide a substantially clean simple way to dispose of cigarette leavings.

A further object is to provide fireproof ashtray receptacle means for disposing of burning cigarette leavings.

A further object is to provide an ashtray having substantially simple but effective cigarette grip means for removably gripping or holding a burning cigarette.

A further object is to provide such cigarette grip means which supports the cigarette between two wire portions thereby eliminating the unwanted sweating of the cigarette and foul taste gravity or rest-type cigarette support means.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects means and particular- The invention is in two upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken as on the line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wire frame part of the ashtray.

FIG. 4 is a side view of embodiment 2 with a fragmentary portion of the ashtray base member removed for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a top view taken as from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

The ashtray of embodiment l is indicated by numeral 11 and is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Ashtray 11 includes basically a body part 13 and a frame part 15. Body 13 is preferably press-formed from a single sheet or blank of aluminum foil and includes a substantially fiat bottom portion 17 and a continuous circumferential lateral portion 19 integrally secured to and projecting upwardly from bottom portion 17. Lateral portion 19 terminates in a circumferential downturned portion 21 and substantially forms the rim of body part 13. As body 13 is formed, the excess aluminum foil material is deformed along circumferential lateral portion 19 in the form of vertically extending creases 23.

Frame part 15 is preferably formed from a continuous length of small gauge ductile metal wire and includes a major portion 25 disposed medially of the length of the wire. Each end of the length of wire forming frame part 15 includes a primary end portion 27 and a secondary end portion 29. Frame part 15 is formed ringlike and is conjointly secured with body part 13 with the downturned portion 21 thereof deformed around the major portion 25 of the frame part. The secondary end portions 29 are twisted together and project substantially upwardly. Circumferential downturned portion 21 of body part 1-3 includes a recessed portion 31 forming substantially a gap 33 in the downturned portion. The twisted secondary portions 29 project substantially upwardly from gap 33 and are arranged substantially perpendicular to the horizontal major portion 25 of frame 15.

Primary end portions 27 are in a bifurcated opposingly arranged paired configuration and define substantially the grip means or cigarette holding means of the ashtray. Each primary end portion 27 preferably includes downturned loop portion 35. The loop portions 35 towards the distal-ends thereof are substantially straight and elongated as at 36. These downwardly extending portions 36 are spaced apart and slightly converge to take care of variations in the sizes of cigarettes, one of which may be gripped therebetween. The opposingly arranged primary end portions 27 preferably are in a plane extending substantially perpendicular to a radius of the circular body part; the primary end portions 27 are arranged in such a way that the burning end of a cigarette will be supported over the ashtray interior.

Although the secondary end portions 29 are illustrated in the drawings as being of half-turn or half-twist configuration, it will be understood that the secondary portions may be turned other amounts, as a full turn or a turn-and-a-half if desired.

Ashtray 11 of the present invention is adapted to be used as illustrated in FIG. 1 and as a hand-held portable ashtray. A burning cigarette may be supported over the ashtray by pressing the body or shank of the cigarette downwardly between primary end portions 27.

Embodiment 2 of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and is indicated by numeral 37. Said embodiment 37 includes an ashtray member 39 and a base member 41. Ashtray member 39 is of somewhat low broad configuration and preferably circularly formed. The construction of ashtray member 39 is substantially the same as ashtray 11 and includes a body 43 formed of aluminum foil material and a frame 45 formed of ductile metal wire.

Base member 41 is disc-shaped and preferably formed of plastic material. A circular upwardly opening socket opening is formed in the top of base member 41. The socket opening is defined substantially by a circular bottom surface 47 and a somewhat cylindrical or conical lateral surface 49. Ashtray member 39 is removably received in the socket opening of base member 41 with the ashtray member flat bottom portion and circumferential lateral portion substantially engaging respectively the upwardly facing bottom surface 47 and lateral surface 49 of the base member. A small quantity of pressure-sensitive or contact type adhesive material 51 is provided for holding ashtray member 39 in base member 41. The adhesive means is preferably in the form of a small disc of pressure-sensitive tape permanently secured to the undersurface of the bottom portion of ashtray body 43. The back surface of the disc of tape is preferably permanently secured to the undersurface of the bottom portion 53 and with the pressure-sensitive adhesive side of the tape detachably engaging bottom surface 47 of the base member. It will be understood that the reverse of this arrangement may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, that is, the adhesive tape material may be permanently secured to the bottom surface 47 and detachably secure-d to bottom portion 53.

Ashtray member 39 is of lightweight material and the adhesive means securely holds the ashtray and base member together as a cigarette is manipulated into and out of the cigarette holder means of the ashtray. Base member 41 is preferably formed of solid material having substantial weight in order to provide a firm base for the ashtray.

The ashtray means of the present invention provides an easy clean way of disposing of cigarette butts or cigarette leavings. The ashtray is formed of fireproof material and a burning cigarette butt is readily crushed out as the ashtray is crumpled or crushed about the cigarette. Simple but effective cigarette grip means is provided for removably gripping or holding a burnin-g cigarette; a burning cigarette gripped between the primary portions of the grip means of the ashtray does not form moisture as the cigarette burns and the taste or quality of the smoke is not impaired. The ashtray is formed of readily available and cheap material. In the portable ashtray embodiment 1 a practical personalized ashtray is provided, which is particularly useful at parties and the like where there is a crowd and people are moving about. Thus, it leaves one hand free for holding beverages and the like and prevents the dropping of ashes on the floor.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A disposable cigarette ashtray comprising a wirelike frame including a ring-like major portion and cigarette grip means, a cup-like body formed of a thin sheet of foldable material attached adjacent the upper end thereof to said major portion of said frame, said cigarette grip means including opposingly arranged paired primary end portions between which a cigarette may be gripped.

2. The disposable cigarette ashtray of claim 1 in which said primary end portions include loop portions having spaced apart downwardly converging portions that contact the gripped cigarette.

3. The disposable cigarette ashtray of claim 1 in which said cup-like body is formed of a thin sheet of aluminum foil material and with said body including a substantially flat bottom portion and a continuous circumferential lateral portion integrally secured to and projecting upwardly from said bottom portion and terminating in a circumferential downturned edge portion and with said downturned edge portion including at least one recessed portion defining substantially a gap in said downturned edge portion; and in which said frame is formed from a continuous link of small gauge ductile metal wire with a portion intermediate the length of the wire establishing said major portion, each end of the opposite ends of said length of wire establishing one of said primary end portions and a secondary end portion, said major portion of said frame being arranged horizontally and securely conjoined with said body and with said downturned edge portion of said body being deformed snugly around said major frame portion, said secondary end portion respectively of said opposite end portions of said frame being twisted together and projecting upwardly and away from said gap in said downturned edge portion of said body and with said primary portions being disposed substantially above said twisted secondary portion.

4. Ashtray means comprising in combination a disposable ashtray member including a one-piece cup-like body including a substantially fl'at bottom portion and a continuous circumferential lateral portion integrally secured to and projecting upwardly from said bottom portion and terminating in a circumferential downturned edge portion and with said downturned edge portion including at least one recessed portion defining substantially a gap in said downturned edge portion, and a frame formed from a continuous length of small gauge ductile metal wire including a major portion intermediate the length of the wire forming said frame, each end of the opposite ends of said length of wire including a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, said major portion of said frame being arranged horizontally and securely conjoined with said body and with said downturned edge portion of said body being deformed snugly around said major frame portion, said secondary end portions respectively of said opposite end portion of said frame being twisted together and projecting upwardly and away from said gap in said downturned edge portion of said body and with said primary portion being disposed substantially above said twisted secondary portions and in bifurcated opposingly arranged paired configuration, said primary end portion defining substantially grip means for removably gripping the cigarette between said primary end portions; a substantially solid weighty holder member for removably holding said ashtray member, said holder member having an upwardly opening socket opening defined substantially by an upwardly facing bottom surface and a circumferential lateral surface, said disposable ashtray member being removably received in said socket opening with said ashtray member flat bottom portion and circumferential lateral portion being contiguous respectively to said upwardly facing bottom surface and said circumferential lateral surface of said holder member.

5. The ashtray means of claim 4 further characterized in that each primary end portion of the bifurcated and opposingly arranged paired primary end portions is in the form of a loop portion and with the loop portions respectively of said pair of primary end portions being convergingly downturned and defining space between said loop portions for gripping a cigarette.

6. The ashtray means of claim 5 which additionally includes a quantity of contact or pressure-sensitive adhesive material interposedly disposed between said ashtray fiat bottom portion and said bottom surface of said socket opening in said holder member for detachably holding said ashtray member in said holder member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 48,858 4/1916 Feldt et al. 131-231 D. 125,052 2/1941 Goldstein 131-241 1,359,548 11/ 1920 Thomson 131-240 1,912,860 6/1933 Ranhofer 131-240 XR 2,073,498 3/1937 Seez 131-240 2,219,974 10/1940 Bellow 131-241 2,646,050 7/ 1953 Webster 131-241 XR 2,681,200 6/ 1954 Bisson 131-231 XR 2,710,704 6/1955 Webke 131-240 XR 2,778,365 1/1957 Silverman et al. 131-241 XR 3,130,851 4/ 1964 Gill 131-241 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 678,568 1/ 1930 France. 982,560 l/l France. 954,154 4/1964 Great Britain.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. R-EICH, Examiner. 

1. A DISPOSABLE CIGARETTE ASHTRAY COMPRISING A WIRELIKE FRAME INCLUDING A RING-LIKE MAJOR PORTION AND CIGARETTE GRIP MEANS, A CUP-LIKE BODY FORMED OF A THIN SHEET OF FOLDABLE MATERIAL ATTACHED ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF TO SAID MAJOR PORTION OF SAID FRAME, SAID CIGARETTE GRIP MEANS INCLUDING OPPOSINGLY ARRANGED PAIRED PRIMARY END PORTIONS BETWEEN WHICH A CIGARETTE MAY BE GRIPPED. 